Policies & Procedures

Academic Progress

Students are expected to move progressively through the courses leading to a Certificate in Clinical Pastoral Education or a Certificate in Supervisory Education. Individuals who depart the program for more than one year must resubmit an application with updated information.

Academics Grading Scale

Students are graded on the following scale.

Letter Grade

Points

Category

Evaluation

A+

100-96

Exemplary

Exceeded Learning Outcomes

A

95-91

Exemplary

Nearly Exceeded Learning Outcomes

B+

90-86

Competent

Met Learning Outcomes

B

85-81

Competent

Nearly Met Learning Outcomes

B-

80-76

Developing

Making Progress Toward Learning Outcomes

C+

75-71

Developing

Making Some Progress Toward Learning Outcomes

C

70

Beginning

Beginning to Address Learning Outcomes

Admissions Policy

The following policy outlines the requirements for admission to the following:

  • Certificate in Clinical Pastoral Education
  • Certificate in CPE Supervisory Education
  • Special Student Admissions – Non-Certificate

 

Visit the Education tab and then Applications and Forms

The application includes the following (as applicable):

  • Previous Academic Education
  • Previous CPE
  • Identification of three references
  • Fours Essays
    – Personal History: A descriptions of one’s life story, including a description of one’s family of origin and current family relationships, important events, relationships with people that have been significant, and the impact these events and relationships have had on one’s development
    – Religious/Spiritual Development: A description of the one’s religious/spiritual development, including events and relationships that affected your faith and currently inform one’s belief system.
    – Ministry Account: Describe an account one was called to help someone in need. Include the nature of request, an assessment of the need, what actions were taken, and a summary. Students having completed a previous course/unit of CPE may include a verbatim.
    – Understanding of CPE: Identify your understanding of CPE and what you hope to gain personally and professionally from CPE
  • Attach a current resume or career vitae (CV)

Specialization Courses

Students desiring to complete a specialization in CPE for purposes of continued integrative theological education and job preparation may enroll in one of the following courses.

Admissions to the Certificate in CPE Supervisory Education

Graduate education or equivalent from an accredited institution, the completion of four courses or 1600 clock hours of clinical pastoral education (CPE), and professional certification as a Chaplain by a recognized credentialing organization or completion of Board Certification within the first year of supervisory education. Prospective students whose native language is not English and who have not earned a degree from an appropriately accredited institution where English is the principal language of instruction must demonstrate a high-school proficiency in English by completing the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL).

Visit the Education tab and then Applications and Forms

The application includes the following (as applicable):

  • Previous Academic Education
  • Previous CPE
  • Identification of three references
  • Four Essays:
    – Personal History: A description of one’s life story, including a description of one’s family of origin and current family relationships, important events, relationships with people that have been significant, and the impact these events and relationships have had on one’s development.
    – Religious/Spiritual Development: A description of the one’s religious/spiritual development, including events and relationships that affected your faith and currently inform one’s belief system.
    – Understanding of Supervisory CPE: Identify your understanding of Supervisory Education and what you hope to gain personally and professionally from CPE.
  • Attach a current resume or career vitae (CV)

Assessments and Evaluations

Supervisors-Educators use a variety of instruments to assess and assist students in reaching their goals. 

  • Final Evaluation: Students will receive a final evaluation from their CPE Supervisor-Educator within 30 days of the end of a course.
  • Student Internship Assessment: The Internship Coordinator’s assessment complements the Supervisor-Educator’s evaluation and will assist in providing a more comprehensive review from the internship site.
  • Post-Course Assessments: An online post-course assessment is required of each student.

Awarding Certificates

Students are awarded a formal certificate for completing the certificate program in which they are enrolled.

Anti-Discrimination and Harassment Policy

CPEI will not discriminate based on race, color, creed, religion, ancestry, national or ethnic origin, political affiliation, sex/gender, sexual orientation, age, or disability and will provide an environment free from harassment. CPEI will not tolerate harassment of any nature, including but not limited to sexual harassment, unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical harassment of a sexual nature.

Complaints and Grievances Policy

Complaints or grievances are encouraged to be handled at the lowest level. However, if the incident cannot be resolved, students have 30 days of an incident to file a report with CPEI’s Ethics Committee. The report must include the date of the incident, a description of the complaint with any relevant information, and efforts taken to resolve the issue. 

The Ethics Committee Chair and an appointed consultant will conduct an initial inquiry within 30 days of receiving the complaint and respond. If the issue remains unresolved, the Ethics Chair will appoint a mediator to facilitate discussion between the parties involved. The Ethics Chair will appoint a 3-person panel to hear the case if the issue remains unresolved. The ethics committee panel will be the final decision.

Confidentiality

Supervisory-Educators (Faculty) and CPEI Administration must hold confidential student records, including student applications, evaluations, and reference letters. Student records will not be released without the student’s consent.

Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) is a federal law that protects the privacy of student education records, both financial and academic. Certain student records cannot be released without the student’s explicit consent for student’s protection. However, some directory (membership) information can be released without the student’s consent, such as name, address, email address, phone number, dates of enrollment, student current enrollment status, and CPEI courses completed.

HIPAA Compliance: CPEI is committed to being compliant with the regulations and conditions set forth in the Health Insurance Portability and Availability Act of 1996 (HIPAA). CPEI Staff, Supervisors-Educators and students agree to keep all PHI (Protected Health Information) that is entrusted to us privately and securely. Information that is unintentionally shared will be reported to the proper authorities immediately.

Internship Policy

Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) programs require an internship of 300 hours per course, which is 75% distance education. The purpose of the training is to foster and improve pastoral care and counseling skills as well as to enhance personal and pastoral awareness and identity. Successful completion of this program is designed to result in an improved understanding of the complex needs of human beings in spiritual crisis and improved skills and competency in responding to persons in need. 

Internships can take place in many sites, including one’s current ministry setting, hospitals, hospices, law-enforcement or correctional facilities, nursing homes, and fire and rescue departments.

Transfer of Credit/Equivalencies

Students may apply for credit to be awarded for one course(25%) of CPE or Supervisory CPE if prior educational and experiential learning experiences meet or exceed CPEI’s objectives and learning outcomes. CPEI determines whether transfer credit will be received and awarded.

Student Rights and Responsibilities

Students have the right to be respected, receive quality clinical and educational experiences, participate in an environment conducive to learning, be free from any form of harassment, file a grievance or appeal, and receive due process.

CPEI expects students to participate in and take responsibility for their learning; maintain confidentiality related to peer and supervisory group sessions and patient/client encounters and records; maintain active in their internship site; abide by the CPEI Code of Professional Ethics; be punctual and present for all sessions and maintain copies of personal evaluations, and records.

Students Dismissal or Extension

Students may be dismissed for various reasons such as the failure to successfully progress through the course, pay tuition fees, etc. 

Students must submit in writing to their supervisor-educator a request for an extension to complete the course internship requirements. Issues for consideration include a death in the family and hospitalization.

Training Completion

Without a Supervisor-Educator, CPEI will be notified, and appropriate steps will be taken to ensure students can complete their education.

Transcripts and Student Records

Student records are maintained for a period of seven years.

Students may request a copy of their transcript by completing the required form on CPEI’s website.

Applications and Transcript must be submitted in English.

Tuition and Enrollment Fees

  • All tuition and enrollment fees are to be submitted through CPEI’s payment site
  • Tuition and fees are due in full the first week of the course although, a deferred payment plan may be arranged
  • The extension of tuition payments beyond the last day of the CPE course is not allowed and requests for extensions of tuition payments beyond the last day of the course will not be granted
  • The failure to pay tuition and other fees in full will result in no CPE or Supervisory credit being awarded
  • All Supervisor-Educators and Supervisory Candidates are required to address the issue of tuition payment at the time of the CPE applicant’s admission interview so that the applicant is clear regarding their responsibility to pay tuition
  • Students are allowed to make up to four payments per course, but the tuition and fees must be paid in full before the end of the course
  • Late payments will be assessed a fee

Refunds and Cancellations

  • Students canceling enrollment within five days after signing the acceptance letter or canceling after five days but prior to the course beginning will receive a full refund of monies paid minus the application fee; otherwise, the following refund policy is in effect.
  • Students must submit in writing or email a request to withdraw to the CPEI Supervisor-Educator.
  • A student withdrawing after the course started is entitled to tuition refund monies paid based on the following schedule. Special consideration will be given to a student’s request for a refund beyond this policy in the case of student illness or accident, death in the family, etc.
  • CPEI Supervisors-Educators notify CPEI’s Administrative Assistant who determines what is owed to the student and initiates a refund if any is due.

 

Percentage of Tuition Refund Minus Enrollment and Technology Fees

After Week 1

80%

After Week 2

60%

After Week 3

40%

After Week 4

20%

After Week 5

0%

Refund Example: Student withdraws from the CPE program during Week 3 but before Week 4 will receive the following refund reimbursement. Total paid- $1249 (Tuition $1199.00 and $25 enrollment and a $25 technology fee). Refund to student: $499.60 tuition and fees (40%).

Refunds must be submitted to students within 30 days of request.

Truth and Lending Act Disclosure

  • CPEI agrees to not disclose credit card information to anyone outside the person who holds the card.
  • CPEI does not provide loans to students.
  • Tuition is expected to be paid prior to or within the first week of the course. No discount is provided for early payment.
  • Students may request in writing the need for installment payments not to exceed four per course.
  • Students will be assessed a fee for late payments.

Discounts/Scholarships Policy

Any discounts or scholarships allowed in their promotional materials must be stated for a specific time period related to the discount or scholarship and the amount allowed.

Scholarships are not available through CPEI. However, students will need to confer with their respective CPEI Affiliates for information on discounts or scholarships.

Financial Aid

CPEI does not participate in Federal Financial Aid Programs (Title IV Pell Grants, Perkins Loans, etc.) due to the extensive administrative requirements.

Verification of Students

CPE Supervisors-Educators will use the students’ identification number and photo I.D. to verify those enrolled in the CPE or Supervisory program.